The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-11-23

The Loss by the Fire not so Heavy as at
First supposed.

First supposed.
New HAVEN, November 2l.-The ami
mails quarters OF Barnum's circus, at
Bridgeport, were burned to the ground
last night. One of the watchmen, George
N. Morris, wss making his rounds about
10 O'Clock, when he discovered flames in
one corner of the building where the
horses are Kept. He rushed around the
building 10 alarm other employees, when
he was knocked senseless by some one
with a club. He lay on the ground I'M
conscious for twenty minutes and when
he revived half of the building was in
flames. BE awakened sleepere in the
building and some one rushed to an alarm
box half q mile away and pulled
il, neglecting to sound the alarm
from q box located at the entrance to the
grounds. This caused delay Of half an
hour in the arrival of the fire department.
When il did come II could do nothing be-
yond saving the adjacent buildings from
being destroyed. In the meantime twenty
eight elephants were turned loose. The
white elephants, Samson and Alice, were
destroyed. The other elephants rushed
about the city and one fell on a man,
breaking three of his ribs and one leg. The
cid hen which is often seen on top OF the
chariot in street professions, was hauled
out of the flames by his keeper, William
Blukely. AS soon as he was out of the
by beating his head with clubs and firing
shots into him from q revolver. He was
secured and placed in q pen, but broke
ont and, scaling q ten foot fence, took
refuge in a barn, where he killed a COW.
He was shot while making a breakfast of
fresh meat,
Eeight men, who were sleeping in the
building, barely escaped with their lives,
and one who was sick was dragged off his
han onH Os1f inf al
most of the elephants had been corralled.
The rhinooeras was got out of the building,
but was burned and cut both by getting
out OF the cage and by the crowd, who
seemed possessed to kill all the animals
which came out Of the building. Only the
cat ANIMALS were burned. The monkeys
and others were in other buildings. Many
of the idlos which are exhibited with the
show were burned. The cries of the burn.
ing animals were heart rending. Through
the flames could be seen the tigers, leopards
and other Cat animals dashing frantically
about their cages and finally succumbing
TO the smoke and fame. The elephants
rushed madly about the streets, lashing
their burned and torn sides with their
trunks and scattering the crowds in all d.
rections. IL is reported that several men
were picked up and thrown over fences
and more or less III ured.
The birds were all in New York City, at
Central Park. In the paint shop were
many of the handsome chario's undergo
ing repairs. These were wheeled out as
fast possible, but not without injury. At
II O'Clock what had two hours before been
the home OF the wonders of the earth, lay
heap of smoulderipg ruins from which
asceDded the odor OF burning flesh. The
iron cages twisted in all ways and still in
candescent stood out prominently among
the ruins against the DARK back ground OF
the night beyond.
Among the animals destroyed were four
elt plants, five lions, seven leopards, six
panthers, four kangaroos, six horses aud q
large number OF smaller beasts. Among
the elephants burned were Alice, Samp.
con and the sacred white elephant. One
of the large elephants escaped, and this
morning was found drownded in the sound
near the lighthouse, where 1t had gone in
its fright, Aside from this, the only ami
mails that escaped beyond the grounds was
large lion, which wandered into Chris
TOPPER Bickards' barn-yard, where it at
tackeds cow and calf, making an early
breakfast of the latter. Mrs. Bickards uu-
dertook to drive the beast away, not know
ing or realizing the nature OF the animal,
until warned by a neighbor, when she
made hasty retreat. The animal was
shot soon after by one of the circus en-
ployes.
Otto Msbbie. an elephant trainer, by
his heroic efforts. saved eighteen elephants.
Mr.. Bailey said this morning that 800, 900
would probably cover the loss. The lost
animals and all the paraphernalia destroy.
ed will be replaced as soon as possible and
last nights fire would not interfere with
next seasons show. The insurance placed
through Staples & Co., on the
building and property burned is as follows:
Building SIPS. Animals $35, 900. OF the
latter amount s., 500 was on the elephants
bnrned; So. $50 on the hippopotamus. The
building will be rebuilt as soon as possiblS.
Besides the above property destroyed
were two of the largest chariots known
as the Neptune and the Green Tableau car.
The origin of the fire is still mystery,
but the general opinion among those
prominently connected with the winter
quarters is that it was the work of an in
cendiary. George Myers, one of the watch
men, and one OF the first to discover the
fire, started to enter the building and was
knocked down by an unknown man, who
struck him two blows on the head with q
blunt instrument. He lay unconscious
short time, and when ne came tn, the
building was in flames. A short "billy"
was found near the place this morning.
Tho fro oferfnd in the ato hla